halsten



1 June 28, -1955 G. E. HALSTEN 2,711,614

DUCK CALL Filed May 5, 1952 //\/A/E/\/7 UF\: GORDON t. HALSTEN A T TUE/V5 United States Patent DUCK CALL Gordon E. Halsten, Beaverton, Oreg.

Application May 5, 1952, Serial No. 286,130

Claims. (Cl. 46180) This invention relates generally to game calling instruments and particularly to what is commonly known as a duck call.

The main object of this invention is to produce a duck call which produces the maximum in quantity and quality of sound with the expenditure of the minimum amount of effort.

A further object is to so construct the call that its qualities will not change under ordinary conditions of temperature, moisture and age.

A further object is to so construct the call that a straight reed may be employed no initial set or curvature need be imparted to the reed before it is installed.

I accomplish these and other objects in the manner set forth in the following specifications as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the call, taken along the line 1-1 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3--3 in Fig.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 44 in Fig.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 55 in Fig. normal to the plane of the section shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the reed.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the reed holding wedge.

Like numbers of reference refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown a mouthpiece barrel 10 having a cylindrical bore 11 in one end and a tapering inlet opening 12 extending from the bore 11 to the end 13. Within the bore 11 is inserted the shank 14 of the outlet tube 15 having a large outer bore 16 and a smaller inner bore 17.

A stem 18 of semi-circular cross section extends from the shank 14 to the end 19 and its transversely straight side 20 extends along the axis of the call at a slight angle therefrom to a point of tangency with the rounded end 21 of the stem 18. The side 20 is curved convexly along its length. The stem 18 has a tapering half-round channel 22 formed in its straight fiat side 20 extending from the small bore 17 almost to the rounded end 21.

A slot 23 is formed across the shank 11 and inclined with relation to the axis of the call. The angle of departure of said slot is greater than the angle of the face 20 from the call axis. Within the slot 23 is placed a plastic reed 24 of flat and straight material and having one straight end 25 normal to its length and one rounded vibrating end 26. The reed 24 is held in place by a wedge 27 of cork or other resilient material which fits snugly into the slot 23 and crowds the reed 24 against the stem side of the slot 23.

The call, including the reed, is preferably made of plastic having suitable characteristics for the purpose intended.

It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the straight reed 24 is normally held away from the face 20 but, as the user blows on the mouthpiece 10, air passes through the channel 22 under the reed 24, which is supported only at the outlet end, thereby setting up a vibration of the reed and imparting a call not unlike that given off by game birds.

The special feature of this duck call is the built-in tapered air control which funnels wind directly onto the reed, making it easier to blow. The easier to blow the better variation can be obtained in range, pitch and length of series of calls.

In the calls commonly made, wood is often used but such calls are difficult to blow, are subject to change and often affected by the moisture which collects in the call.

I claim:

1. A duck call comprised of a mouthpiece having a longitudinal through passage with a cylindrical bore at one end and a tapering bore at the other end, the innermost end of said tapering bore being smaller in diameter than the cylindrical bore, an outlet tube having a shank insertable into said cylindrical bore, said shank having a semi-circular stem extending into said cylindrical bore substantially to the inner end of said tapering bore, said stem having a transversely straight longitudinally convex side channelled from the shank end to a point near the mouthpiece end of said stern, said shank having a transverse slot inclined with relation to the axis of the call, a straight plastic reed extending into said slot, a cork wedge within said slot holding said reed against said stem, the mouthpiece end of said stem curving outwardly from the under side of said reed to the extreme end of said stem, said tapering bore serving to converge the air stream against the curved end of said stem.

2. A duck call comprised of a mouthpiece having a longitudinal through passage with a cylindrical bore at one end and an outwardly tapering bore at the other end thereof, the smaller end of said tapering bore being smaller than the diameter of said cylindrical bore, an outlet tube having a reduced. shank insertable into said cylindrical bore and having a semi-circular stem extending from said shank into said cylindrical bore substantially to said smaller end of said tapering bore, said stem having its transversely straight side inclined across the axis of the call and having the end of said stem rounded from its straight side to the extreme tip of said stem, said stem having a tapering channel formed along the length of its straight side, said outlet tube having a concentric bore, said shank having an eccentric bore smaller than is the bore of said outlet tube, said shank having a transverse slot inclined with relation to the straight side of said stern and a reed over said channel having one end in said slot with a cork insert in said slot holding said reed in position against said straight side, the tapering bore of said mouthpiece discharging the air along the axis of said call against the end of said reed.

3. A duck call comprising an elongated barrel member having a mouthpiece end with alongitudinal tapering bore, said bore having a large outer end and a small inner end, the other end of said member having a longitudinal cylindrical bore of larger diameter than the inner end of said tapering bore, said small inner end of said tapering bore opening into the inner end of said cylindrical bore, an outlet tube having a shank fitted in said cylindrical bore and a channelled stem extending substantially to said inner end of said tapering bore, and a reed mounted in said shank in operative relation to said channelled stem, said reed having a free end dis posed in said cylindrical bore at a short distance from said small inner end of said tapering bore.

4. A duck call comprising an elongated barrel member having a mouthpiece end and an outlet end, said outlet end having a longitudinal cylindrical bore, an

Patented June 28, 1955 outlet tube having a shank fitted in said bore and a channelled stem extending within said bore, and a reed mounted in said shank in operative relation to said channelled stem and having a free vibrating end projecting toward said mouthpiece end of said barrel member, the mouthpiece end of said barrel member having a longitudinal tapering bore with a small inner end of smaller diameter than said cylindrical bore, said small inner end of said tapering bore communicating with said cylindrical bore and disposed a short distance ahead of said free end of the reed to converge and funnel an air flow from said tapering bore toward said free end of the reed.

5. A duck call comprising an elongated barrel member having a mouthpiece end and an outlet end, an outlet tube in said outlet end having a channelled stern extending into said barrel member, and a reed mounted in said outlet tube in operative relation to said channelled stem and having a free vibrating end projecting toward said mouthpiece end of said barrel member, the mouthpiece end of said barrel member having a tapering bore with a small inner end directed toward and spaced 2. short distance ahead of said free end of said reed to converge and funnel an air flow from said tapering bore toward said free end of the reed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 468,156 Pratt Feb. 2, 1892 488,238 Young Dec. 20, 1892 1,623,106 Goldberg Apr. 5, 1927 2,500,975 Armstrong Mar. 21, 1950 2,544,370 Walther Mar. 6, 1951 2,555,813 Priess June 5, 1951 2,559,781 McMahon July 10, 1951 2,606,400 Olt Aug. 12, 1952 

